Then Sushma, now Jaishankar, 9 years – two pictures… then Pakistan had missed its big opportunity, will it improve now?

New Delhi : Same place- Pakistan. Two photos. 9 years gap. A picture from 2015. Then S. was seen following the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as Foreign Secretary. Jaishankar. On the other hand, Jaishankar himself is seen with full vigor as the Foreign Minister. Sushma Swaraj had given Pakistan a big opportunity to improve bilateral relations. Bilateral talks had also taken place at that time, but Pakistan would not have desisted from its nature of backstabbing. he/she stabbed and crushed the possibilities of friendly relations. Now after 9 years, the same Pakistan is struggling for bilateral talks. Jaishankar has already made it clear that there is no bilateral talks, but still this visit of the Indian Foreign Minister can be an opportunity for Pakistan. Opportunity to improve relations with India. Opportunity to reduce stress. An opportunity to give wings to the hopes of resumption of bilateral trade, to take the sinking boat of the economy to the Sahil. First of all, talk about Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Pakistan in December 2015. The then Foreign Minister had gone to participate in the security conference on Afghanistan. 14 countries had participated in it. Sushma Swaraj then also held bilateral talks with Pakistan. There were meetings with the then PM Nawaz Sharif and then Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz.

Then S. Jaishankar also went to Pakistan with Sushma Swaraj. As Foreign Secretary. In the picture he/she is seen walking behind Swaraj. After 9 years, S Jaishankar has now reached Pakistan in the capacity of Foreign Minister. For the SCO meeting. In his/her speech, he/she criticized China and Pakistan without naming them and also gave advice. The advice is to avoid terrorism, separatism and extremism. Admonishment to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. The advice is that if there is lack of trust in cooperation then there cannot be friendship. If the neighboring religion is missing then there is a need to look within. A big difference of 9 years is that then Sushma Swaraj had given a chance to Pakistan through bilateral talks, but this time there was no talks with it. Just a 20 second handshake with Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif.

Then after returning from Pakistan tour, Sushma Swaraj had given a statement in the Parliament regarding her visit. he/she had told how his/her visit could become the basis of warming relations between the two countries. Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue was announced in the joint statement issued in Islamabad on December 9 after Sushma’s meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz.

Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Pakistan could have been a big opportunity to bring the derailed relations back on track. But where is Pakistan if it desist from its actions? Not even a month passed that Pathankot airbase was attacked by Pakistani terrorists. The hopes of normalization of relations were dashed when the terrorist attack in Uri took place in September 2016. In response, India had to conduct a surgical strike. Modi government has made it clear that terror and talks cannot go together. Pakistan will have to stop using terrorism as a tool for dialogue and normalization of bilateral relations.

This stance of India is still the same. After 9 years, an Indian Foreign Minister went to Pakistan but no bilateral talks took place. S. Jaishankar had made it clear even before the visit that the visit is for multilateral talks, not bilateral talks. However, his/her visit has definitely given the message that India wants stability in relations with neighboring countries.

Ajay Bisaria, former High Commissioner of India to Pakistan, while talking to a Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post, had described Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan as an important opportunity to improve relations between the two countries. he/she had said, ‘By deciding to send a minister, India has given a message that it wants stability in relations with its neighbor. Both countries can start relations by sending their respective High Commissioners. Apart from this, trade can also start.

Now it is up to Pakistan how seriously it takes India’s message. Normalization of bilateral relations is ultimately in its interest. If it convinces India for bilateral trade, its sinking economy can get a boost. Then Pakistan had missed a golden opportunity during Sushma’s visit, now after 9 years it has got another opportunity.